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Cloud House Phase I, Digital Realty

Mechanical & Electrical Installation

Digital Realty required the design and build of a new data hall as well as the build and fit-out of office facilities within an existing data centre located in London. Experienced in this sector, Gratte Brothers Building Services & Engineering (GBL) was appointed as the Principal Contractor, to deliver the complete Mechanical & Electrical services package and all associated builderswork.

Project Information

Client:
Digital Realty
Main Contractor:
Gratte Brothers Limited
Sector:
Data Centre
Duration:
18 Months
Services:
Mechanical & Electrical Installation

Project Overview

Appointed as the Principal Contractor, Gratte Brothers undertook a range of electrical services including the installation of new MV & LV switchgear, UPSs, generators, busbar, power distribution units, fire alarms, CCTV and access control.

Mechanical services additionally included the installation of a chilled water distribution system, VRF & DX cooling, water mist systems, leak detection, public health and building management systems. As Principal Contractor, Gratte Brothers also undertook all associated builders works, which included raised flooring, new offices, meeting rooms, plant rooms, fire rated risers, fire stopping and steelwork.

Environmental Credentials

Gratte Brothers was responsible for ensuring the environmental credentials of the project, which ultimately achieved a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating of Excellent. Cloud House Phase 1 was registered under the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CSS), which encourages best practice beyond statutory requirements within the construction industry and formed the key basis for a credit within the BREEAM certification.

Information around the materials used, site travel, commissioning methodology as well as the installation and implementation of sustainability initiatives was submitted to an external consultant for consideration over the course of the project with a bespoke travel calculator developed for the project to measure the environmental impact of our staff and site activities. Calculations included the distance travelled by the individual operatives on site, material deliveries and the waste management companies collecting skips from site. The project also recycled 100% of all on-site waste.

Dock Water Cooling

One of the key environmental initiatives of this project was the installation of an innovative dock water cooling system used throughout the data halls in place of conventional mechanical cooling. To install this system, a dive team was employed to install pipework and sea-water pumps within the dock. These works, along with the installation and provision of energy efficient plant and an intelligent lighting control system throughout the building, contributed to both the long term and short term sustainability of the project.

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